Patrick Phiri will lead Zambia to the African Cup of Nations after the Zambian government suspended the search for a foreign coach.

Phiri was named caretaker coach of the Chipolopolo after Kalusha Bwalya resigned last year.

The caretaker coach, whose contract was due to expire in December, has now been offered a three month extension.

Sports minister Gabriel Namulambe says the process of recruiting a foreign coach has now been halted after consultations with the Football Association of Zambia (Faz) and other footballing organisations.

Namulambe said they had decided to suspend the search for a foreign coach because of the confusion surrounding the process.

"As regards the burning issue of the expatriate, the process has stopped. We'll be starting afresh," he told journalists in Lusaka.

"Faz needs to sit down again and categorically state what they are looking for in a coach because this process was speculative."

Namulambe said Phiri has since been told to appoint his technical assistants for the January 2008 Nations Cup finals.

The Sports Minister also appealed to Faz executive members to remove personal interest when looking for Zambia's next coach.

"No person should exhibit personal interest in the matter," he said.

Former Togo coach Stephen Keshi, Frenchman Noel Tosi and Colwyn Rowe, the current coach for Botswana have previously been linked with the job.